SOL expansion

[AndrewP]

Pretty sure bob murray said the South stand extention would make it 55k and 63k including the east stand

East strand and NEC upper would be more than 8k.

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

Please fix the searchlights.
Ha'way the light.

Didn't Ponteland Airport put the kybosh on that by claiming it was distracting pilots?

 

[JackL]

Not so much attendances as a phobia of empty seats.

We've already got plenty of them, there isn't a sound business case to provide more of them

 

[Big Duke Six]

Didn't Ponteland Airport put the kybosh on that by claiming it was distracting pilots?

 

[MadMackem10]

Shortage of hospitality options is already costing the club gig income. Given there's little or no space for additional hospitality in terms of bar/lounge space etc, and any additional hospitality seats on the current footprint would displace existing season card holders (or reduce availability for matchday sales), the only way we can realistically offer hospitality to meet current expectations is in the form of additional capacity.

The days of a football stadium being solely for football are gone.

I’d imagine the club are well aware that we aren’t likely to be regularly selling out an increased capacity just yet. But it would be financial madness not carry out the extension at the same time as adding much needed hospitality.

And if the long term plan under KLD is to be established in the prem we will eventually need that capacity.

 

[AndrewP]

Hmm I’m not sure that was the common view at all. There were comments about it being a white elephant and not necessary. It even gets a mention on Premier Passions iirc.

We can agree to differ like.

I think it was thought it would be a white elephant if we were relegated. Difficult to sell a new stadium upon relegation etc.

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

I’d imagine the club are well aware that we aren’t likely to be regularly selling out an increased capacity just yet. But it would be financial madness not carry out the extension at the same time as adding much needed hospitality.

And if the long term plan under KLD is to be established in the prem we will eventually need that capacity.

The time for a business to act is before you have a problem.

 

[SAFC11]

Capacity for general attendees (outside of corporate) is generally fine and about right even if we managed a period of survival and mistake sort of finishes. Would only be "worth" extending if we started finishing top 3rd of the league etc

 

[AndrewP]

Well that’s what Sir Bod did.

18,000 average gate and Bob builds a 42,000 stadium. Vision

He also knew we got up to 35k in Division 3.

 

[Sir dave]

Sunderland has a population of 275k
Tyne and Wear population is approx 1.1m
County Durham's population is 530k
Northumberland is 320k

That's a fairly large catchment any for 2 PL clubs

I'd say now is the right time to extend the stadium

Sunderland population in 2025 is 349,162

 

[AndrewP]

It’s great to see the city getting back on its feet, university adding more courses with foreign student influx

The university is cutting courses and foreign student numbers are way down.

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

The university is cutting courses and foreign student numbers are way down.

Hardly surprising with the resident knuckle draggers making them less than welcome.

 

[Leake Makem]

Anyone else just find this chat about extension we have yearly hilarious as we've not got close to selling it out consistently for 23 years haha. Like why do we bother and chat about it?

 

[RedandWhiteRebel]

Shortage of hospitality options is already costing the club gig income. Given there's little or no space for additional hospitality in terms of bar/lounge space etc, and any additional hospitality seats on the current footprint would displace existing season card holders (or reduce availability for matchday sales), the only way we can realistically offer hospitality to meet current expectations is in the form of additional capacity.

The days of a football stadium being solely for football are gone.

Yes and because the stadium was built with expansion in mind it is very achievable without too much hassle,

We have the space available around the stadium to build out and up when needed and definitely from a hospitality point of view it is needed now.

 

[AndrewP]

The days of a football stadium being solely for football are gone.

There will be less non-footballing events at the stadium than ever next year. Are we looking at bringing in more non-football stuff, do you know?

 

[Sgt Pepper]

Sunderland population in 2025 is 349,162

Where’s this from? City of Sunderland including the likes of Washington, Houghton and so on has a population of around 270-280k, while just Sunderland without those places is about 180k. Have never seen your figure before.

 

[AndrewP]

Hardly surprising with the resident knuckle draggers making them less than welcome.

I think it's more to do with changes to visas (they can't bring family now) and currency fluctuations.

 

[Sir dave]

Where’s this from? City of Sunderland including the likes of Washington, Houghton and so on has a population of around 270-280k, while just Sunderland without those places is about 180k. Have never seen your figure before.

That’s off 2021

 

[1more]

Sunderland population in 2025 is 349,162

Even more reason to expand

 

[HeroHurley]

Didn't Ponteland Airport put the kybosh on that by claiming it was distracting pilots?

Yes. They'll not be coming back. Imagine a scenario where an incident with the Airport and a plane happened when the lights were on and the flight/Airport cited them as a factor. The club wouldn't have a leg to stand on as they'd already been warned about the potential to distract pilots.